Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Lythraceae

Genus:

Cuphea

Species:

Cuphea parsonsia

USDA Symbol:

CUPA2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Annual

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

60 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

jun,jul,aug,sep,oct

Bloom Colors:

purple, pink, white

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

hummingbirds, butterflies, bees

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

native to regions with high rainfall

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

None required

Germination Time:

14–21 days

Notes:

Seeds require light for germination; surface sow and maintain warm temperatures around 70-75°F.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI